State probes fight that left Russian boxer with brain damage

Reuters/USA Today Sports

Mike Perez won his fight with Magomed Abdusalamov (left) during their heavyweight U.S. NBC Champoinship. Abdusalamov was rushed to hospital when he vomited after the fight.

ALBANY — The state inspector general is launching a probe into the New York State Athletic Commission’s handling of a brutal fight that left a Russian boxer with brain damage, the Daily News has learned.

The investigation of the Nov. 2 brawl comes at the request of New York Secretary of State Cesar Perales, who oversees the Athletic Commission.

“I believe it is critical to determine whether, in fact, the policies and procedures in place to protect the fighters were properly administered,” Perales wrote to Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott.

The investigation follows complaints from manager Boris Grinberg that commission doctors allowed his fighter, Magomed Abdusalamov, to leave The Theater at Madison Square Garden after the fight without further medical supervision.

Moments later, Abdusalamov vomited and was rushed in a cab to the Roosevelt Hospital emergency room, where he vomited again, blacked out and had a blood clot removed from his brain. He remained in critical condition Monday.

Athletic Commission Chairwoman Melvina Lathan could not be reached for comment.

A source close to the commission said Abdusalamov had four different doctors look at him after the fight and “never complained of anything” being wrong.